Florida Part 1

Last night, my plane flew out of Rockford at 5:30 p.m. and I arrived at the Orlando/Sanford airport at 9:00 p.m. The flight went very smoothly, and Grandma and Grandpa were right there when I got to the baggage area. While we were driving back to their house, I saw how HUGE Orlando is! Grandma and Grandpa live in a gated community (Landmark Baptist Village). Today, we just relaxed in order to get ready for a busy week. :)

Grandma and Grandpa's cute little house :)

the camera I rented arrived today

Grandma and I went for a walk today in their neighborhood, and Grandma said there are usually several of these birds walking around.

oranges

tangerines

palm trees

Later in the day, we went out to run an errand so I took some pictures out the window. The house are so different down her. Almost all of them are cement on outside, and the grass down here has to be watered or it will dry up.

orange tree grove

A lot of the buildings are kind of spanish looking.

So far, I am really enjoying myself!!! :)

~Amber~

Neighborhood Get- together

On Tuesday, Mom and Grandma Mary did a going away party for Kathy, who is moving to Colorado.

Mom made a cake for Kathy.

Kathy and Toby and Katie's daughter Addison

Mom and some older neighbor ladies

Reece, Austin, and Liz Munz

Katie Lutz

Amanda and Jeff

Andrew and Grandpa Ray

Mr. Despain, Dad, and Mrs. Despain

Anthony and Mom

Grandma Mary, Liz, and Kathy

Grandpa Ray and Grandma Mary

Austin and Kathy

Mrs. Despain was playing a "clock" game with Alec.

He loved it and of course wanted her to keep doing it! ;)

It was nice time of fellowship with old friends and new friends too. We will greatly miss Kathy, and we wish her God's blessings!

~Amber~

Alec :)

Program for Mother/Daughter Banquet

We did a program with the Ortega and Niesman families on Sunday for a Mother/Daughter banquet at a Lutheran Church in Savanna.

waiting for the program to start

Some of the Ortega kids
Moriah, Josiah, Hadessah, and Isaiah

Moriah, Hadessah, and I sang "A Mother's Gentle Love."

The Ortega family sang "Have You Been to Jesus/I'll Fly Away."

Andrew introduced our song.

We played "Just Over in the Gloryland."

Mrs. Ortega and Moriah was a song based on 1 Corinthians 13 called "Though I May Speak."

Josiah accompanied them on the guitar.

Aaron and I played a beautiful arrangement of "How Deep the Father's Love for Us."

Anthony accompanied us on the piano.

Mom

Mrs. Niesman, Tyler, and Jordan read characteristics of all the letters in "Motherhood."

Mrs. Niesman, Mrs. Ortega, and Mom sang "Christlike Medley."

Tyler accompanied on piano....

and Anthony and Aaron on violin and viola.

all of the kids
back: Josiah O., Andrew, Tyler N., Anthony, Me
middle: Gabriel O., Jordan N., Aaron, Moriah O., and Isaiah O.
front: Hadessah O. and Austin

The song the moms sang was very peppy, so they wanted to bop up and down to it. ;)

They were in a very giddy mood! lol

The program went very well, and we were thankful that we were able to be a blessing to the mothers and daughters who attended.

~Amber~

Recitals

This past Friday, Anthony had a piano recital.

Anthony and his teacher Jacob Bernhardt played a duet.

Jacob with all of his piano students.

On Saturday morning, Aaron and Anthony had string recitals. Thank you to Linnea and Rianna Caswell for accompanying them! :)

Needless to say, last weekend was pretty busy! ;)

~Amber~